ATLANTA -- The National Automatic Merchandising Association is teaming up with the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality at GeorgiaStateUniversity's J. Mack Robinson College of Business to present a five-day Emerging Leaders Development Program this fall. It's scheduled for September 16 through 20 (Sunday-Thursday) at the GeorgiaTechGlobalLearningCenter in midtown Atlanta, and is being sponsored by The Coca-Cola Co. and the NAMA Foundation.

The program is designed for mid-level managers involved in vending, coffee service and foodservice. It will offer development, training and leadership learning to these managers, featuring interactive sessions in team building, consumer preference determination, profit-and-loss management, communication, conflict management and client/employee negotiation skills, among other topics.

A special feature of the course will be the opportunity to receive an individual skills assessment based on the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument tool. Each participant will complete a profile at least two weeks before the course commences, and will receive in-depth feedback and utilization instruction during the program.

Among the distinguished faculty assembled for the new program are Diana Barber, JD, a practicing attorney specializing in hospitality legal issues and a School of Hospitality faculty member; Ira Blumenthal, president of Co-Opportunities (Atlanta), a marketing consultant who is executive-in-residence for GSU's School of Hospitality; Debby Cannon, Ph.D., an expert on human resource matters and employee development and director of the School of Hospitality; Rob George, director of guest services for the Atlanta Braves and an adjunct faculty member at GSU; Misty Johanson, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Hospitality, a veteran of the international hospitality business who specializes in communication and conflict resolution; David Pavesic, Ph.D., professor in the School of Hospitality who specializes in food cost control, purchasing/inventory and restaurant management; and Deborah Robbe, a faculty member at the School of Hospitality who has extensive experience in trade show management.

Also on the faculty are Michael Kasavana, Ph.D., CHTP, NCE, National Automatic Merchandising Association endowed professor at Michigan State University's School for Hospitality Business (East Lansing); Dan Mathews, NCE, senior vice-president and chief operating officer of NAMA; Geoff Paul, president of Excelso Coffee Co. (Atlanta) and of Atlanta Coffee Time and Atlanta Vending, and a board member of the Vend Marketing Institute (Louisville, KY); Carole Proebstle, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist consultant on learning preferences and teaching styles; and Jim Proebstle, founder and president of ProDyne Inc. (Barrington, IL) and a NAMA Knowledge Source consultant who specializes in sales and cross-functional management effectiveness training.

Evening events planned for the program include a behind-the-scenes customer service tour of an Atlanta Braves game.

Information on the Emerging Leaders Development Program may be found at NAMA's website, vending.org, in the education section.